Kneeling bench



P. H. HIGGINS Sept. 3, 1963 KNEELING BENCH Y Filed Jan. 5, 1961 INVENTOR. 21/ Hz}; 77.5.

United States Patent 3,102,757 KNEELING BENCH Paul H. Higgins, 26644 Humher, Huntington Woods, Mich. Filed Jan. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 80,797 14 Claims. (Cl. 297-426) This invention relates to kneeling benches, and particularly to supporting devices for a kneeling bench which retain it parallel to all of its positions when moved from kneeling to retracted position.

Heretofore, kneeling benches were constructed in such manner as to have the end supporting elements extend rearwardly from pivots which attached the kneeling bench to a pew. When the kneeling bench was pivoted to raised position, the projecting ends of the supporting elements extended outwardly into the passageway between the pews to trip up or injure anyone passing therethrough. By maintaining the kneeling bench in a vertical position at all times, there are no projecting supporting elements extending into the passageway between the pews, and the kneeling bench is raised a substantial distance from the door to permit the floor to be swept and mopped without interference.

The presentinvention embodies the use of parallel links which are pivoted to a pair of plates in a manner to form a parallelogram with the links and end plates maintained in parallel relationship in all positions of adjustment. The plates are disposed at opposite sides of the links to face in opposite directions so that one may be secured to the and supporting element of the kneeling bench while the other is secured to the pew. One pivot is near the top, the other near the bottom of the plates at difierent side edges thereof so that within the 90 angular movement of the kneeling bench from kneeling to retracted position, the links will be retained spaced apart sufiiciently so as not to pinch a finger or other appendage which may extend therebetween during the operation thereof.

One of each pair of links at opposite sides of the kneeling bench is interconnected by a rod to have both of the supporting devices move in unison when raising and lowering the kneeling bench. A spiral spring, made from a strip of spring steel, has the central transverse end disposed in a 151011 in a projection on a fixed pivot of one of the links, with the opposite end formed into a hook and extending about a pin on the link to thereby provide tension for assisting in the raising of the bench from kneeling position. One of the plates may be formed from a stamping and employed as the end supporting element of the kneeling bench, to a pair of which a downwardly presented channelashaped kneeling element is secured having a resilient pad \mlcanized or otherwise secured thereto. The bottom of the stampings may have a resilient element riveted or otherwise secured thereon in position to engage the floor. Such resilient element will deaden any noise which may occur when the kneeling bench is lowered against the resistance of the springs which prevent it from dropping freely.

According y, the main objects of the invention are: to provide end supporting elements at opposite ends of the kneeling bench which permit it to be raised and moved rearwardly while remaining parallel to all of its positions; to provide a parallelogram supporting device at each end of la kneeling bench made from a pair of links and end plates which permit the movement of the kneeling bench upwardly and rearwardly without being tilted; to provide parallelogram supporting, elements at each end of the kneeling bench with spring means for balancing [its Weight when moved from occupied to retracted position; to support each end of a kneeling bench on a parallelogram device made up of a pair of links connected by a plate at one end to the pew and by a stamping at the other end across which a kneeler rail is supported, and, in general, to provide supporting devices for a kneeling bench which are simple in construction, positive in operation and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of the invention will be specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of the [invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a .pew having kneeling benches thereon, one in raised, the other in lowered position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged broken view in elevation of a kneeling bench when in lowered position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in FIG. 2, taken on the line 33 thereof;

FIG. 4 is a broken sectional view of the device illustrated in FIG. 2, taken along the line 4-4 thereof, and

FIG. 5 is a view of structure, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3, with the pew in raised position and the supporting devices attached to stampings which form the supporting element for the rail of the kneeling bench.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 inclusive, a kneeling bench 10 is secured to a pew 11 by left and right-hand supporting devices 12 and 13. Each devices has -a pair or links '14 and 15, the lower end being secured by rivets 16 and 17 i to a supporting plate 18 which is secured to the pew by a plurality of screws 19. The area about the rivets 16 and 17 is embossed as at 21 to provide a fiat face against which the links 14 and 15 hear when pivoted on the rivets extending therethrrough. The opposite end of the links 14 and 15 is secured by rivets 16 against the flat faces of the embossed areas 210i an attaching plate 22. The attaching plate 2.2 is secured by screws 19 to an end supporting element 23 at each end of the kneeling rail 24. The links 15 of the two devices at the opposite side of the kneeling bench are interconnected by a rod 25 for stabilizing the links and the kneeling bench when the latter is moved from one position to the other. Each plate 22 has a projecting finger 27 which acts as a stop for the rod 25 when the kneeling bench is in raised position and the rod has moved into a notch 26 in the end supporting elements thereof.

In each of the devices, a spiral spring 31 made from flat spring stock has an inner diametrically disposed end 32 anchored within a slot 33 in a fixed extension 34 of the rivet 17 on which the link 15 pivots. The outer end of the spring has a hook 35 engaging a pin 36 on the link 15 to tension the spring as the kneeling bench is being lowered. The force built up in the spring when the kneeling bench is lowered assists in raising the kneeling bench when it is being moved to retracted position.

It will be noted that the kneeling bench is vertically disposed in all positions of adjustment, with the end sup porting elements 23 and the central supporting element 37 extending downwardly when in raised position within the width of the pew 11. There is no part of the kneeling bench which extends outwardly into the passageway between adjacent pews as occurs when pivotally secured kneeling benches are pivoted from kneeling positions, with the end and central supporting elements 23' and 37 extending rearwardly. Very little efiort is required to raise or lower the spring balanced kneeling bench and very little noise, if any, occurs when lowering the kneeling bench to kneeling position.

A modified form of structure is illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein end supporting elements in the nature of stampings 29 have the links 14 and 15 directly secured to the embossed areas 21 thereof by the rivets 16. The stamped end supporting element 29 has a notch 28 therein and is provided with a top flange 38, a front flange 39, a rear flange 41 and a bottom flange 42. The flange 42 has a rubber pad 43 secured thereto :by suitable means, herein illustrated as by rivets 44. The links 14- and 15 are secured to the attached plate 18 by the rivets 16 and 17, with the coil spring 31 secured to the rivet 17 and link 15 in a manner hereinabove described. The kneeling rail embodies a downwardly presenting metal channel member 45 having a resilient pad 46 vulcanized or otherwise secured thereto. The ends of the sides 47 of the channel member 45 engage the flanges 3 and 41 of the end supporting elements 29 and are secured thereto by screws 48.

The rear portion of the stamped end supporting elements 29 is cut away at 49 to provide foot clearance for anyone walking in the space between the pews while the kneeling bench is in lowered position. It will be noted that the mechanisms are self-contained and only require a plurality of screws 19 to secure the plates 18 and 22 to the pew land kneeling bench respectively, or to the pew alone when the stamping 29 is employed for supporting the kneeling rail or the assembly. By employing the spiral spring 31, the force required to raise and lower the kneeling bench is substantially balanced so that the lowering can occur without noise and the raising can take place without exerting any great amount of force. When in raised position, substantial clearance is provided below the kneeling bench so that the floor thereunder may be worked upon without interference. By providing a stop finger on the plate 22 and the notch 28 in the stamping 29, the rearward movement of the kneeling bench is interrupted when the links 14 and 15 are substantially in vertical position, in which position the kneeling bench 10 within the dimension of the pew is out of the path between adjacent pews, as is evident from examining the raised kneeling bench 10 on the pew 11 of FIG. 1.

What is claimed is:

1. A supporting mechanism having devices employed at opposite ends of a kneeling bench which are of the same construction except for being of the opposite hand for attachment to opposite sides of a pew, each said device embodying a pair of parallel links, pivots securing the ends of the links to a pair of parallel plates, means for attaching the plates to the ends of the kneeling bench and adjacent sides of a pew, and a crossbar connected to an aligned link of the pair interjacent the pivots to provide rigidity to the assembly before and after attachment to the kneeling bench.

2. A supporting mechanism having devices employed at opposite ends of a kneeling bench which are of the same construction except tfor being of the opposite hand for attachment to opposite sides of a pew, each said device embodying a pair of parallel links, pivots securing the ends of the links to a pair of parallel plates, means for attaching the plates to the ends of the kneeling bench and adjacent sides of a pew, a crossbar connected to an aligned link of the pair interjacent the pivots to provide rigidity to the assembly before and after attachment to the kneeling bench, and spring means on each of said devices which is tensioned upon the lowering of the kneeling bench to provide a force to assist in moving the kneeling bench to raised position and cushioning the lowering thereof.

3. A supporting mechanism having devices employed at opposite ends of a kneeling bench which are of the same construction except for being of the opposite hand for attachment to opposite sides of a pew, each said device embodying a pair of parallel links, pivots securing the ends of the links to a pair of parallel plates, means for attaching the plates to the ends of the kneeling bench and adjacent sides of a pew, a crossbar connected to an aligned link of the pair interjacent the pivots to provide rigidity to the assembly before and after attachment to the kneeling bench, spring means on each of said devices which is tensioned upon the lowering of the kneeling bench'to provide a force to assist in moving the kneeling bench to raised position and cushioning the lowering thereof, and stop means on said mechanism which limits the movement of the kneeling bench when it has reached raised position.

4. A mechanism rfor supporting a kneeling bench on a pew in a manner to permit it to be raised andlowered, said mechanism embodying a pair of attaching plates one tfO'l' the kneeling bench the other for the pew at opposite ends of the kneeling bench, a pair of pivots on each of said plates, a pair of links pivoted on said pivots and disposed in parallel relationship, a crossbar joining a link of the pair interjacent the pivots aligned at opposite ends of the pew for providing stability to the mechanism before and after attachment to the kneeling bench, and spring means on one of said plates engaging the link pivoted thereto in a manner that the tension applied thereto on the lowering of the kneeling bench -will be available to assist in the raising thereof.

5. A mechanism for supporting a kneeling bench on a pew in a manner to permit it to be raised and lowered, said mechanism embodying a pair of attaching, plates one for the kneeling bench the other for the pew at opposite ends of the kneeling bench, a pair of pivots on each of said plates, a pair of links pivoted on said pivots and disposed in parallel relationship, a crossbar joining a link of the pair interjacent the pivots aligned at opposite ends oi the pew for providing stability to the rnechaiiism betfo-re and after attachment to the kneeling bench, spring means on one of said plates engaging the link pivoted thereto in a manner that the tension applied thereto on the lowering of the kneeling bench will be available to assist in the raising thereof, and stop means on one of said plates engaged by said crossbar for limiting the raised movement of said kneeling bench.

6. In a kneeling bench, a pair of end stampings in right and left-hand relationship at opposite ends of the kneeling bench forming legs having a web with inwardly directed flanges, an inverted channel member having a web and side flanges secured to said legs in a manner to form a unit structure, a resilient pad directly secured to the web of said channel member, a pair of links at each end of the kneeling bench, means for pivotally securing one end of the links (to the web of each of the stampings, a pair of plates to which the opposite ends of the pair of links are respectively pivoted to (form a parallelogram support at opposite ends of the kneeling bench, and a crossbar joined to one of the pair of said links at each side of the kneeling bench for stabilizing said assembly.

7. In a kneeling bench, a pair of end stampings in right and left-hand relationship at opposite ends of the kneeling bench, a pair of links at each end of the kneeling bench, means for pivotally securing the end of the links to each of the stampings, a pair of plates to which the opposite ends of the pair of links are respectively pivoted to (form a parallelogram support at opposite ends of the kneeling bench, a crossbar interconnecting a link of the pair interjacent rthe'pivots thereof to provide rigidity to v the mechanism before and after assembly to the kneeling bench, stop means on said end stampings against which the crossbar abuts when the kneeling bench is in raised position, a downwardly presenting channel rail interconnecting the pair of end stampings, and a pad secured to the top Web portion of the channel element.

8. In a kneeling bench, a pair of end stampings in right and left-hand relationship at opposite ends of the kneeling bench, a pair of links at each end of the kneeling bench, means for pivotally securing the end Olf the links to each of the stampings, a pair of plates to which the opposite ends of the pair of links are respectively pivoted to form a parallogram support at opposite ends of the kneeling bench, a crossbar interconnecting a link of the pair interjacent the pivots thereof to provide rigidity to the mechanism before and after assembly to the kneeling bench, stop means on said end stampings against which the crossbar abuts when the kneeling bench is in raised position, a downwardly presenting channel rail interconnecting the pair of end stampings, a pad secured to the top web portion of the channel element, and a rubber element secured to the bottom of each stamping in position to engage the floor.

9. In a kneeling bench, a pair of end stampings in right and left-hand relationship at opposite ends of the kneeling bench, a pair of links at each end of the kneeling bench, means for pivotally securing the end of the links to each of the stampings, a pair of plates to which the opposite ends of the pair of links are respectively pivoted to form a parallelogram support at opposite ends of the kneeling bench, a crossbar interconnecting a link of the pair interjacent the pivots thereof to provide rigidity to the mechanism before and after assembly to the kneeling bench, stop means on said end stampings against which the crossbar abuts when the kneeling bench is in raised position, a downwardly presenting channel rail interconnecting the pair of end stampings, a pad secured to the top web portion of the channel element, and a rubber element secured to the bottom of each stamping in position to engage the floor, said stampings having a flange at the edges thereof to provide strength thereto and to provide a support for said rubber foot.

10. In a kneeling bench, a pair of end stampings in right and left-hand relationship at opposite ends of the kneeling bench, a pair of links at each end of the kneeling bench, means for pivotally securing the end of the links to each of the stampings, a pair of plates to which the opposite ends of the pair of links are respectively pivoted to form a parallelogram support at opposite ends of the kneeling bench, at crossbar interconnecting a link of the pair interjacent the pivots thereof to provide rigidity to the mechanism before and after assembly to the kneeling bench, stop means on said end stampings against which the crossbar abuts when the kneeling bench is in raised position, a downwardly presenting channel rail interconnecting the pair of end stampings, a pad secured to the top web portion of the channel element, and a rubber element secured to the bottom of each stamping in position to engage the floor, said stampings having a flange at the edges thereof to provide strength thereto and to provide a support [for said rubber foot, the front portion of said stampings having a notch therein for receiving said crossbar to form a stop therefor, the rear face having an inwardly extending recess above the bottom flange to provide foot clearance when the kneeling bench is in lowered position.

11. In a kneeling bench, a pair of end stampings in right and left-hand relationship at opposite ends of the kneeling bench, a pair of links at each end of the kneeling bench, means for pivotally securing the end of the links to each of the stampings, a pair of plates to which the opposite ends of the pair of links are respectively pivoted to form a parallelogram support at opposite ends of the kneeling bench, a crossbar interconnecting a link .of the pair interjacent the pivots thereof to provide rigidity to the mechanism before and after assembly to the kneeling bench, stop means on said end stampings against which the crossbar abuts when the kneeling bench is in raised position, a downwardly presenting channel rail interconnecting the pair of end stampings, a pad secured to the top web portion of the channel element, and a rubber element secured to the bottom of each stamping in position to engage the floor, said stampings having a flange at the edges thereof to provide strength thereto and to provide a support for said rubber foot, the front portion of said stampings having a notch therein for receiving said crossbar to form a stop therefor, the rear face having an inwardly extending recess above the bottom flange to provide foot clearance when the kneeling bench is in lowered position, one of said pivots on each plate and stamping being lower at one end thereof than the pivots at the other end thereof so as to maintain the links in sufficient spaced relation between lowered and raised positions to prevent the pinching of a finger therebetween.

12. In a kneeling bench, a pair of end stampings in right and left-hand relationship at opposite ends of the kneeling bench,'a pair of links at each end of the kneeling bench, means for pivotally securing [the end of the links to each of the stampings, a pair of plates to which the opposite ends of the pair of links are respectively pivoted to form a parallelogram support at opposite ends of the kneeling bench, a crossbar interconnecting a link of the pair interjacent the pivots thereof to provide rigidity to the mechanism before and after assembly to the kneeling bench, stop means on said end stampings against which the crossbar abnts when the kneeling bench is in raised position, a downwardly presenting channel rail interconnecting the pair of end stampings, a pad secured to the top web portion of the channel element, a rubber element secured to the bottom of each stamping in position to engage the floor, said stampings having a flange at the edges thereof to provide strength thereto and to provide a support for said rubber foot, the front portion of said stampings having a notch therein for receiving said crossbar to form a stop therefor, the rear face having an inwardly extending recess above the bottom flange to provide foot clearance when the kneeling bench is in lowered position, one of the pivots on each plate and stamping being lower at one end thereof than the pivots at the other end thereof so as to maintain the links in sufiicient spaced relation between lowered and raised positions to prevent the pinching of a finger therebetween, said spring being of the spiral type made from a strap having a diametrically disposed inner end engaged in a slot in a fixed pivot on which the link pivots, and a hook on the outer end engaging a pin on the link.

13. In a kneeling bench, a pair of end stampings forming legs having a web with inwardly directed flanges, a metal inverted channel member having a web and side flanges secured to said legs in a manner to form a unit kneeling bench structure, a resilient pad directly bonded to the web of said channel member and forming a kneeling area directly contacted by the knees of the occupant, and means on said legs by which the kneeling bench is pivotally secured for movement into and out of kneeling position.

14. In a kneeling bench, a pair of end stampings forming legs having a Web with inwardly directed. flanges, a metal invented channel member having a web and side flanges secured to said legs in a manner to form a unit kneeling bench structure, a resilient pad directly bonded to the web of said channel member, a pair of plates, two sets of pairs of links, and means pivoting one end of the pairs of links to the outer side of the web of said legs and the other end of the links to the inner face of the plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 612,135 Linn Oct. 11, 1898 701,050 Keeran May 27, 1902 1,856,297 St. Marie et a1. May 3, 1932 2,460,791 Bernhard Feb. 1, 1949 2,591,598 Owler Apr. 1, 1952 2,711,383 Ruggeri et al. June 21, 1955 2,825,582 McDonald Mar. 4, 1958 

1. A SUPPORTING MECHANISM HAVING DEVICES EMPLOYED AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF A KNEELING BENCH WHICH ARE OF THE SAME CONSTRUCTION EXCEPT FOR BEING OF THE OPPOSITE HAND FOR ATTACHMENT TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF A PEW, EACH SAID DEVICE EMBODYING A PAIR OF PARALLEL LINKS, PIVOTS SECURING THE ENDS OF THE LINKS TO A PAIR OF PARALLEL PLATES, MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE PLATES TO THE ENDS OF THE KNEELING BENCH AND ADJACENT SIDES OF A PEW, AND A CROSSBAR CONNECTED TO AN ALIGNED LINK OF THE PAIR INTERJACENT THE PIVOTS TO PROVIDE RIGIDITY TO THE ASSEMBLY BEFORE AND AFTER ATTACHMENT TO THE KNEELING BENCH. 